Financial Aid
NEW FAFSA GUIDLINES IN PLACE FOR 2024-2025
FAFSA will be released in December, instead of October 1st, like in the previous years. December will cut the time families have to submit FAFSA, which will still have a final federal deadline of June 30, 2025. However instate colleges have deadlines as early as January 1st.
FAFSA is a graduation requirement and is due April 1st for SHS paperwork.
GOING MERRY
FME Instructions.pdf
College Affordability and Transparency Center
3 Types of Financial Aid
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID can be awarded by the government and by the institution of higher learning that you attend. The amount of financial aid offered is based on need and can come in the form of grants or loans. The FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid) can be filled out starting October 1 of the senior year. We know filling out FAFSA can be confusing; you can find several free help sessions throughout the Austin area. See below for details.
US Department of Education's College Scorecard (a searchable college affordability database; scroll to the bottom for the "paying for college" section)
Use the FAFSA 4Caster to estimate your eligibility
Sign up for your FSA ID Number (for students and parents; used to "sign" documents electronically)
Start your FAFSA Application
Need step-by-step help working through your FAFSA application? Use this guide from Nitro.
Access help from an online FAFSA assistant
LendEDU is a free text-in resource that provides prompt answers to your questions. They also provide a resource specifically for Texas students.
Another source of reliable, free information is the Texas Financial Aid Information Center at phone number 1-888-311-8881.
Financial-Aid-Timeline-and-FAFSA-Checklist.pdfNON-FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID is available from some colleges. For schools that do offer this option, students will need to complete the CSS Profile application.
TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid) Students who are classified by the institution as a Texas Resident who cannot apply for federal financial aid, using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), are encouraged to complete the TASFA. To see if you qualify for the FAFSA, please visit www.studentaid.gov. Do not complete both the FAFSA and TASFA.